Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and Teenagers
In two recent studies, we identified neuroanatomical and neurofunctional markers of musical aptitude, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and dyslexia in the auditory cortex (AC) of children. In a subsequent study with adults, we found evidence for neuroanatomical correlates of speech imitati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2019.00824/full |
| _version_ | 1818316718574927872 |
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| author | Sabrina Turker Susanne Maria Reiterer Peter Schneider Annemarie Seither-Preisler Annemarie Seither-Preisler |
| author_facet | Sabrina Turker Susanne Maria Reiterer Peter Schneider Annemarie Seither-Preisler Annemarie Seither-Preisler |
| author_sort | Sabrina Turker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In two recent studies, we identified neuroanatomical and neurofunctional markers of musical aptitude, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and dyslexia in the auditory cortex (AC) of children. In a subsequent study with adults, we found evidence for neuroanatomical correlates of speech imitation ability in right Heschl‘s gyrus (HG), a structure comprising primary and parts of secondary AC. In the present study, we aimed to verify this previously suggested link between structural variation of right HG and language aptitude in a younger population of children and teenagers (N = 42; age range: 10–16 years), while behaviorally exploring the relationship between language aptitude, working memory, arithmetic skills and musicality. Behaviorally, scores on the language aptitude battery strongly correlated with working memory and speech imitation ability. Furthermore, we found that self- and parent-reported language aptitude and school grades were closely associated with language aptitude scores. Neuroanatomical analyses revealed a significant relationship between the occurrence of multiple HGs and high gray matter (GM) volumes in right AC and high language aptitude regardless of age, gender or musical ability. Additionally, low language aptitude was associated with the occurrence of single gyri in right AC. In accordance with previous research, we suggest that right HG might be associated with language aptitude, with a stronger gyrification and higher GM volumes being beneficial for successful auditory processing and the integration of speech-related cues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:25:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-52edd0f865254ec39566e633dda729de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:25:53Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-52edd0f865254ec39566e633dda729de2022-12-21T23:52:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2019-08-011310.3389/fnins.2019.00824427083Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and TeenagersSabrina Turker0Susanne Maria Reiterer1Peter Schneider2Annemarie Seither-Preisler3Annemarie Seither-Preisler4Centre for Systematic Musicology, University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDepartment of Linguistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaSection of Biomagnetism, Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, GermanyCentre for Systematic Musicology, University of Graz, Graz, AustriaBioTechMed-Graz, University of Graz, Graz, AustriaIn two recent studies, we identified neuroanatomical and neurofunctional markers of musical aptitude, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and dyslexia in the auditory cortex (AC) of children. In a subsequent study with adults, we found evidence for neuroanatomical correlates of speech imitation ability in right Heschl‘s gyrus (HG), a structure comprising primary and parts of secondary AC. In the present study, we aimed to verify this previously suggested link between structural variation of right HG and language aptitude in a younger population of children and teenagers (N = 42; age range: 10–16 years), while behaviorally exploring the relationship between language aptitude, working memory, arithmetic skills and musicality. Behaviorally, scores on the language aptitude battery strongly correlated with working memory and speech imitation ability. Furthermore, we found that self- and parent-reported language aptitude and school grades were closely associated with language aptitude scores. Neuroanatomical analyses revealed a significant relationship between the occurrence of multiple HGs and high gray matter (GM) volumes in right AC and high language aptitude regardless of age, gender or musical ability. Additionally, low language aptitude was associated with the occurrence of single gyri in right AC. In accordance with previous research, we suggest that right HG might be associated with language aptitude, with a stronger gyrification and higher GM volumes being beneficial for successful auditory processing and the integration of speech-related cues.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2019.00824/fullauditory cortex morphologylanguage aptitudeHeschl’s gyrusforeign language learningworking memoryarithmetic fluency |
| spellingShingle | Sabrina Turker Susanne Maria Reiterer Peter Schneider Annemarie Seither-Preisler Annemarie Seither-Preisler Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and Teenagers Frontiers in Neuroscience auditory cortex morphology language aptitude Heschl’s gyrus foreign language learning working memory arithmetic fluency |
| title | Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and Teenagers |
| title_full | Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and Teenagers |
| title_fullStr | Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and Teenagers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and Teenagers |
| title_short | Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and Teenagers |
| title_sort | auditory cortex morphology predicts language learning potential in children and teenagers |
| topic | auditory cortex morphology language aptitude Heschl’s gyrus foreign language learning working memory arithmetic fluency |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2019.00824/full |
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